Pneumatic tire



F. K. SMALL.

PNEUMATIC TIRE.

AII'LICAHON FILED APR. l4. IUI'U.

Patvnlml Aug. 19, 1919.

PATENT OFFICE.

FIRED K. SMALL, OF LISBON FALLS. MAINE.

PNEUMATIC TIRE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 19,1919.

. Application filed April 14. 1919. Serial No. 289,866.

To all tclzomi 1'1 may concern:

Be it known that I. FRED K. SMALL, a citizen of the Ynited States. residing at Lisbon Falls. in the county of Androscog- 5 gin and State of- Maine. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Tires. of which the following is a specification.

My said invention relates to tires and more particularly to a pneumatic tire which does not require to be inflated and one which will not become materially deflated should a puncture occur. All as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which are made a part hereof, and on which similar reference characters indicate similar parts,

Figure l is anelevation of an inn r c ing containing hollow balls. parts being broken away to more clearly illustrate the structure,

Fig. 2, an elevation of thesame rolled to form a ring and clearly illustrating the wrinkles formed by the rolling.

Fig. 3, an elevation of a tire broken away to show an inner casing of my iniproved form mounted therein.

Fig. 4, a cross section 80, a d tire of a wheel, and

ig. 5, a detail perspective view of the meeting ends of the compression ring.

In the drawings the numeral 10 denotes the ordinary form of (lemountable shoe and 11 the folly of an ordinary .wheel. which carthrough the felly ries any suitable form of rim 1'2 for hold ing the tire. v i Mounted within the shoe 10 is a casing 1 13 of rubber, or other Suitable material. cylindrical in cross-section when filled and of a length suflicient to entirely fill the shoe when placedwith its ends abutting one another. -Thecasing 13' is closed at its ends as at 14: and is provided adjacent one of its ends with an opening 15 normally closed by means of a flap 16. Into this opening 11) is inserted a series of hollow inflated rubber balls 17 of sufficient. strength to with- :stand the compression necessary for its use in an automobile tire. These balls are entirely sealed so that no air can escape, therefrom under ordinary conditions. The cas ing 13 is completely filled with the balls 17. then bent as shown in. Fig. 2. inserted within the casing 10 and then put under additional pressure by means of a pressurering-18 which is interposed between the inner edges of the shoe and between the rim 1'2 and said inner tube 1 3. Said pressure ring is formed with overlapping ends 1 one of which is provided with a notch 20. in its end to receive a tool to pry the ends apart and facilitate the. removal of said ring.

\Yhen the casing 13 has been completely filled with the balls 17 and bent as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing a series of wrinkles or crcasesQl will be formed upon its innersurface which puts an initial pressure on the balls. When the tire and casing 13 have been assembled as shown in Fig. 3 with the ring 18 mounted therein, and the whole mounted within the rim 12 of the wheel which retains the ring 18 the balls 17 are put under additional pressure by said ring 18 serving to take up any slack in casing 13 and press said balls together and put them under pressure sutlicient to hold the shoe 10 in a firm condition.

.It will also be readily seen that should a puncture occur. only one. or posslbly two of theballs. will become punctured. which' will not materially affect the elasticity of the tire or allow the tire to be flattened to such a degree that rim cuts would be possible.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A pneumatic tire comprising an outer shoe. an inner casing closed at its ends. hollow flexible balls within said casing. and a pressure ring between the wheel rim and said inner casing adapted to compress said balls. substantially as set forth.

2. A pneumatic-tire comprising an outer shoe. an inner casing of sufficient length to fill said shoe with closed ends and an opening to receive balls. compressible hollow balls within and completely filling said casing. and means for compressing said balls and easing at'ter mounting in said shoe, sul.v stantially as set forth.

3. The combination. a pneumatic tire, an inner casing completely filled with hollow compressible balls, a circular ring adapted to be. expanded against said casing and balls and having overlapping ends to lock it in the expanded position. substantially as set forth.

4. A pneumatic tire comprising an outer of the outer shoe of,

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expa ndedagminst said casing mid lb alls and when eizpandgd being @i 5 larger 'cilcumferenpg than the inneirlcircumk fami ies of said mmnggand bveflappmg ends I omsaid ring to lock it in tha expanded 90- g o pletely fined" hollqw comfimible balls; a circular ring mmma rim of the wheel am? "mm? mm, wk

stantially as set farfnh In witnesswhemof, 1-, mm saefi my hand and my at jfim'eg', elghth-day of Apml, A; D. mirzassfii m hamdred and ninetefin,

Withasses! i 'BEBTHA M1 B J. @mwwm 

